Apparatus for casting iron.



No. 666,367. Patented Ian. 22, l90|.- R. H. WAINFOBD.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING IRON.

(Application filed June as, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

mz' NORRIS PETERS co, movuumcu wunmmcn. n. c.

No. 666,367. Patented Ian. 22, l90l.

R. H. W-MNFURD.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING IRON.

(Applicafion and June as, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m N 2 2 n a I. d e t n e t a P n R 0 F N A .W H nn 7 6 6 6 6 0 N APPARATUS FOR CASTING IRON.

(Application filed June 28-, 1899-) 4 Sheets-Shoat 3.

(No Model.)

//lll/z m: NORRIS PETERS c0, worn-Luna, WA-mmmon, u c

No. 666.367. Patented Ian. 22, I90].

I R. H. WAINFORD.

APPARATUS- FOR cAsTme mom;

(Application filed June 28. 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Shasta-Sheet 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. Puorqumu, WA$NXNGYOM o. c

UNrrnn TATES' RICHARD HANBURY WAINFORD,

ATENT FFIQE.

OF STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,367, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed June 23,1899- Serial No. 721,623. (No model.)

This invention relates to the class of apparatus for casting metals,particularlyiron,into pigs, in which the ladle is run along a line of rails parallel to a row of stationary molds and is gradually tilted during its passage to pour out the metal.

The object of this invention is to prevent the splashing of the metal by keeping the spout of the ladle always at a constant and short distance only above the molds or above a channel moving with the ladle and conveying the metal to the molds, to prevent metal being wasted by escaping down the clearancespaces between the molds as the ladle passes from one mold to the next, to produce cleaner pigs, ingots, or slabs than is done by using sand molds, to impart a good fracture to the metal so cast, to save labor and time, and to lessen their cost of production.

Figure 1 is a part side elevation showing the relative positions of the rails, carriage, and ladle near the two ends of the tracks. Fig. 2 is a plan of the right-hand half of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are diagram views also showing the relative positions of the rails, carriage, and ladle at different parts of the track, Figs. 3 and 5 being sections on the lines 3 3 and 5 5, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 beingintermediate between them. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section, to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, of one of the molds; and Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 6, looking to the right, one of the molds, however, being shown in end elevation. Fig. 8 is a section, to a still larger scale, on the line 8 8, Fig. 3, looking to the left. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8, many parts being omitted. Fig. 10 is a plan, and Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are diagrammatic side elevations, showing modifications.

a is a central inclined line of rails of suitable gage and gradient, up which travels a tilting ladle 1), containing molten metal and mounted on a carriage b, coupled to a trolley 19 which is hauled by a Wire rope or like means at a suitable speed. The means for tilting the ladle 1) form no part of the present invention and are not shown in the drawings.

c is a controlling vessel mounted on a carriage 0, running on rails d, and which is connected by the link 0 to the trolley b so that both the ladle and controlling vessel are caused to travel along their respective lines of rails a d at the same rate of speed, and since the planes of the rails a and d are inclined to each other as the ladle is drawn along and tilted the pouring spout or lip b of the ladle always remains low down and in a constant position with respect to the controlling vessel and so avoids splashing of the molten metal. The controlling vessel 0 conducts the metal as it is poured from the ladle b to a horizontal row of metallic molds f, fitted and supported within tiltable frames 9, packed with fire-clay, asbestos, or like suitable non-conducting material, and supported at their ends by trunnions h. One row of the said molds and their frames is arranged at each side of the inclined ladle-track a, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5. One line or row of the molds is capable of containing the entire contents of one ladle. The molds are fixed to their frames 9 by metallic plates or keepers i and bolts 2' and are supported by metallic bridgeplates i The projections 2' in the molds are for the purpose of forming notches in the cast pigs, ingots, or slabs in order that they shall break into definite or uniform lengths on falling onto a wagon below, the quantity of metal falling onto such wagon not being of sufficient weight to cause damage thereto. The molds may be made singly or in groups and are of acorrugated form to give strength and lightness and of uniform thickness to allow of equal expansion and contraction, so that their life or use may be prolonged. Before pouring molten metal into such molds I lute their interior surfaces with carbon or like suitable material to prevent the cast metal adhering to them.

To prevent loss of metal while pouring by falling between the mold-frames g, I fit vertical slidable metallic bars j, Figs. 8 and 9, adjacent to the ends of the mold-frames, which support horizontal bars 7c, longitudinally beveled on their upper surfaces, so that as the spout c of the controlling vessel passes over such horizontal bars they will be alternately depressed by the inclined arms 0 Fig. 8, attached to the spout, so as to cover the space between the mold-frames while the falling stream of molten metal is passing over the space so covered. After the spout c has passed over or beyond a closed space the vertical and horizontal bars j and 7c are caused to rise to their normal positions by the weight Z and pivoted lever m, so as to remain clear of the mold-casings g to permit such casings, with their molds, to be turned over to discharge their contents, or each bar may, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, be fixed to one end of a lever is, pivoted at k and having the counterbalance-weight Z fixed to its other end.

Suitable metallic covers or lids n, faced with fire-brick or other similar n0n-conducting material and hinged to the side framing of the building, are let down onto the several molds after the molten metal has been poured into them. The molds are kept hot by repeated castings and by being insulated and covered as described, and thus retain the heat in the molten metal cast therein, so that the metal will solidify slowly and impart an open or large crystalline texture to the pigs, ingots, or slabs. When the cast metal is sufficiently set or solidified, the non-conducting covers a are raised from the several molds by means of their chains 0 and balance-weights p, and the mold-frames are tilted in pairs by means of the spur-wheels q and hand-wheel gearing r to discharge their contents laterally onto wagon 3 directly beneath the molds on an approximately horizontal line of rails t, onto which wagon the entire contents of one row of molds may be loaded, thus enabling each cast to be kept separate. A suitable locking arrangement for such molds and tilting mechanism consists of a pawl er, engaging with cleats or raised projections inside the rim of one of the spur-wheels q, so as to hold two mold-casings horizontal and stationary during the operation of casting and solidifying of molten metal in the molds, it being a necessary condition in order to obtain an open fracture that the molds and their contents should be kept stationary and free from vibration while the molten metal is solidifying.

I do not restrict myself to the use of a controlling vessel in combination with such casting. plant, as shown on the drawings, as such vessel and its line of rails may be dispensed with and the line of molds be arranged close up to the inclined ladle-track, so that molten metal may be poured direct from the traveling ladle into the molds, as shown in Fig. 10. In this case the inclined arms or depressingbars 0 are fixed to the pouring spout or lip 12' of the ladle b and take the form of cones.

The above-described arrangement may be modified by making the ladle-track horizontal and the rows of molds f or the rows of molds and the controlling-vessel track in clined, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 11 and 12, the pouring ofmolten metal commencing at the higher end of the row of molds, or the ladle-track may be inclined, and the rows of molds or rows of molds and controlling-vessel tracks may be oppositely inclined, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 13 and 14,by all of which means the desired object of keeping the pouring lip or spout b of the ladle 1) low down to and in constant position with respect to the controlling vessel 0 or the line of molds f to avoid splashing while pouring molten metal will be accomplished.

It is well known that an open fracture in cast pigs, or ingots indicates a strong iron and enhances its value, besides allowing consumers to judge by inspection without the necessity of analysis the quality ofiron. Such open or crystalline texture I obtain by using insulated molds, keeping such molds hot by repeated casting, and keeping such molds stationary or free from vibration, so that the cast metal may solidify slowly.

In the usual methods employed for casting such pigs, ingots, or slabs where traveling or moving molds are used, which subject the metal cast to vibrations, such vibration prevents the desired open fracture forming while such molten metal is solidifying. In cases where stationary molds have been used the desired open fracture has not been attained by reason of neglecting to insulate the molds, the cast metal being chilled by the molds and further chilled in some instances while the metal is solidifying by plunging the ingots and molds into water or by spraying cold water onto the ingots after such ingots have been discharged oremptied from their molds, thus causing the cast metal to cool too quickly.

In the system herein set out vertical planes passing longitudinally through the track and row of molds, respectively, are parallel, or there is such substantial or approximate parallelism as to permit of the molds receiving the metal, as described. Such a practical relationship of the track and row of molds is comprehended in the term parallel or substantially so employed in some of the claims. Furthermore, the track and row of molds are also so related that one is inclined longitudinally relatively to the other for the purpose set forth in the foregoing description.

I-claim as my invention-- 1. In a casting apparatus, a tiltable ladle, a row of molds to receive the metal therefrom, and a track on which the ladle is moved, the row of molds and the track being at different angles to the horizontal.

2. In a casting apparatus, a row of molds and a track, one inclined in a longitudinal direction relatively to the other, and so related that vertical planes passing longitudinally through them are parallel or substantially so, and a ladle traveling on the track and delivering metal successively to the molds.

3. In a casting apparatus, a row of molds and a track, one inclined in a longitudinal direction relatively to the other, and so related that vertical planes passing longitudinally through them are parallel or substantially so, a ladle traveling on the track, and a controlling vessel traveling with the ladle.

4. In a casting apparatus a tiltable ladle, a track along which the ladle moves, a row of molds in a horizontal plane, a controlling vessel 0 connected to the ladle to move therewith and a track on which the controlling vessel is moved, said tracks being arranged at an angle to each other, whereby the ladle and controlling vessel have a relative vertical displacement, said connection between the controlling vessel and the ladle allowing said displacement, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a tiltable ladle, a track along which the ladle is moved, a row of molds arranged side by side parallel to each other, trunnions on which each mold can turn, bars covering the spaces between the molds, means normally tending to raise the bars, and means on the ladle for depressing the bars.

6. The combination of a tiltable ladle, a track on which the ladle is moved, a controlling vessel connected to the ladle and moving with it, a track on which the controlling vessel is moved, a row of molds arranged side by side parallel to each other, trunnions on which each mold can turn, bars covering the spaces between the molds, means normally tending to raise the bars, and means on the controlling vessel for depressing the bars.

7. The combination of a tiltable ladle, a track along which the ladle is moved, a row of molds arranged side by side parallel to each other in a plane at an angle to the plane of the track, trunnions on which each mold can turn, bars covering the spaces between the molds means normally tending to raise the bars, and means on the ladle for depressing the bars.

8. The combination of a tiltable ladle, a track on which the ladle is moved, a controlling vessel connected to the ladle and moving with it, a track on which the controlling vessel is moved, the planes of the two tracks being inclined to each other, a row of molds arranged side by side parallel to each'other in a plane parallel to the plane of the track of the controlling vessel, bars covering the spaces between the molds, means normally tending to raise the bars, and means on the controlling vessel for depressing the bars.

9. The combinationof a tiltable ladle, a track along which the ladle is moved, a row of tiltable frames, molds Within and supported by the frames, heat-insulating material between the molds and the frames, and means for securing the molds in the frames.

10. The combination of a tiltable ladle, a track along which the ladle is moved, a row of tiltable frames, comparatively thin metallic molds within the frames, means for supporting the molds from the frames at their ends and at a point or points along their lengths, heat-insulating material between the molds and the frames, and means for securing the molds in the frames.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of June, 1899, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

RICHARD HANBURY WAINFORD.

Witnesses:

GEoRcE FREDERICK WALTER, EDWARD WILTON DAVIES-REES. 

